Log4Net on cloud solution? - log4net

Question

I would like to utilize Log4Net on a Dynamics 365 solution (plugins, etc.)
Is this possible somehow - I cannot just deploy a config file I guess, but are there a feasible way to do it anyhow?
The dream of mine is to unify logging, to place logging in one place, no matter if it is plug-ins, integrations or other functionality...

Answer 1

Besides using a configuration file, Log4net can accept its configuration from other sources using eg. a Stream or XmlElement.
To do so, you'll have to use the Log4net api via XmlConfigurator.Configure.
It is important not to apply the XmlConfiguratorAttribute; it's either one or the other.
The example below shows how to apply a configuration via an XmlElement.
The content of this XmlElement can be retrieved from anywhere; hardcoded, an embedded resource file, a record from a dabase, etc.
In the xml configuration, you declare any loggers that can be used within your Dynamics 365 environment.
string xml = #"
<log4net>
<appender name='consoleAppender' type='log4net.Appender.ConsoleAppender' >
<layout type='log4net.Layout.PatternLayout'>
<conversionPattern value='%date | %logger | %level | %message | %exception%n' />
</layout>
</appender>
<root>
<level value='ALL' />
<appender-ref ref='consoleAppender' />
</root>
</log4net>";
XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
doc.LoadXml(xml);
XmlElement config = doc.DocumentElement;
ILoggerRepository repository = log4net.LogManager.GetRepository(Assembly.GetCallingAssembly());
XmlConfigurator.Configure(repository, config);
ILog logger = LogManager.GetLogger("somelog");
logger.Debug("foobar");